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October 2017 Edition of Power Politics is updated.  Happy Diwali to all our subscribers and Distributors       October 2017 Edition of Power Politics is updated.   Happy Diwali to all our subscribers and Distributors       
Issue:Sep' 2017

CRICKET DIARY

Lows and highs

K.R Wadhwaney

The unfolding of the recent developments, incidents, spectators satisfactory response, though stadiums are not fully occupied, umpires interest and players zest and enthusiasm prove that the Test cricket is safe from any financial 'blues', as it was felt sometime ago. The main stake holders, players, have started accepting varying types of pitch conditions—bouncy and nippy in England, Australia, New Zealand and spin oriented in subcontinent. The umpires have improved their functioning and are discharging their duties. The covers are durable and rain does not spoil the surface. The quantum of draw has reduced. and this causes happiness to spectators who are being provided better facilities even in sub-continent than before.
The ICC has not done much in reducing quantum of no-balls. They go uncalled for and defaulters escape laid-down penalty. The adjustment of adding a third umpire for line judgment will reduce many evils and the umpires wrong judgments in lbw decisions will reduce. At present, slow motion movements are run and checked and re-checked before giving the striker finally dismissed.
It is the time for lows and highs. It is the period of loss and revival and hope and despair. The Test cricket in flannels is safe and throbbing, thanks to TV channels. Bangladesh, neglected for about 25 years as a part of Pakistan, got a new lease of life when it became independent in 1971. It challenged the might of Australia with clean and straight bat, fast bowlers seamed the ball, spinners showed their tricks and boys fielded enthusiastically. Watching them play so superbly was a cause of delight.
There is an athleticism in their muscles and bones. They defeated Australia with an excellent team efforts after having beaten England last year. They are capable of causing many more surprises in near future, may be in 2019 World Cup.

Steve Smith Australia's captain Steve Smith was out of touch as he was fighting a 'civil war' with Australian Board on the issue of 'salaries'. This was not the cause of their defeat. Australia have capitulated 16 out of the last 24 Tests in Asia. Indeed weather could be one factor in Dhaka. The fact is that Bangladeshis progress is unbelievable in recent months. The most of the players are young and they are on a firm road to manhood in cricket.
A soft-spoken, gentleman and sporting, Nathan Lon has found selfbelief since tour to India early this year. He has impressed his skipper, Steve Smith, who has developed faith in his off-spin bowling. In this series, he bowled orthodox offspinners, with a varying spin, He bowled his arm ball much less. He took career-best 13 wickets for 160, including six for 60 in second innings to help his team beat Bangladesh by 86 runs to level series 1-1 at Chittangong. This was the first series between them. Twice before, the series was cancelled owing to security reasons. The West Indies in doldrums for more than a decade have woken up in all forms of the game.
They have got intelligent hitters of a long ball on ground and among spectators as they possess natural robust physique for eating a large quantity of the animal food. They eat to obtain strength and not fill stomachs as Indians do with chat masala, gole gapa and many other such things. They have realised the need of temperament and mind but their tendency of recklessness stays. Thy still believe 'to win a Test by a mile or lose it by a mile'.

James Anderson After receiving drubbing in the first Test at Edgbaston, the West Indies came back to win the second Test at Headingley with all-round superb doings beating England convincingly. Their doings show that the transition spell is a history. Most of these players have emerged from a tiny island, Barbados It was a conveyer belt of the Windies. Their turn-around is a solid development.
Test cricket has stabilized.
West Indies lost by a huge margin of nine wickets to England in the third Test at Lord's but they fought gallantly. James Anderson sealed the series 2-1 with an outstanding swing and seam bowling. His devastating bowling left England to get 107 runs for victory. This was 5th time, he had taken five or more wickets at Lord's.
Shai Hope was again a scorer of 62 after getting twin hundreds at Headingley. Henry Blofeld, 75, BBC commentator, after 45 years service.
Known as 'Blowers' often strayed from the match to talk about 'earrings'.
England's James Anderson joined the 500 Test wickets club. He was 6th bowler to reach this destination. The 35-year-old, the first English man, received a standing ovation on two occasions in the third Test at Lord's.
He is second fast bowler to earn this distinction. He made his Test debut in 2003.

"Boycott fixation"

Theresa May and husband Phillip watch the cricket at Lords Theresa May, Britain's Prime Minister, is one of few genuinely admirers of cricket and cricketers.
She had spared time from her usually busy schedule to watch the third Test between West Indies and England at Lord's recently.
The lady Prime Minister was all admiration of Geoff Boycott who, according to her, was 'scourge of bowlers and s p e c t a t o r s around the world'. The 'Boycott fixation' is as age-old as her dour administration first as Home Secretary and now in Downing Street.
During this June election campaign, the pundits were critical of her functioning and she could tell: "It is not cricket".
Accompanied by her cricket-loving husband, Philip May, she defended herself in conversation to a BCC's Jonathan Agnew at Lord's. When asked, if Boycott 'bore you to tears' she stoutly replied: "He stayed there. He stuck there. He had a plan. He got along with it".
She said that she presented the dour England opening batsman with 'brownies'. "I am not sure whether he utilised them but I can say that 'Boycott has my tupperwear". Pleased with May's kind words, Boycott predictedly said: "May will be like Margaret Thatcher", adding: She has views and she is firm. Life is about integrity and principles with honesty".
Boycott is nothing but a bundle of controversies. On his controversial 1981-82 tour, he caused series of controversies.
The minister at Hyderabad was very late at the function. When he was presented a 'flower', he placed it on his 'fly'. He went unscathed for his vulgarism. He had two sets of books. When he was entering, the receptionist politely asked him: May I deposit them so that you are free", he replied: "No, no, I will not. You will disappear along with my book".
Before the start of Delhi's first Test, Boycott presented his biography to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who had cleared the tour late. It was alleged that some members of them were involved in apartheid. Boycott did not play the Calcutta Test.
Instead, he played an 18-hole golf round.
He disappeared and flew to South Africa. Even the English players were aware of this coup. They and press came to know at 2 a.m. English journalists and R e u t e r s correspondent and other made a beeline to telegraph office. All operators were asleep. When they eventually woke up the machines went 'cold'.
English journalists tried telephone but without luck. After three hours' nightmare, they gave up and returned to their guest house. Only a tiny piece of Reuters went through. The locals in England got the news that Boycott had ditched the team and had flown to South Africa for the Apartheid series. An Indian journalist was Reuters correspondent. He was K.R.Wadhwaney.